Miter gauge



Dec. .25, 1934.

J. MERRIGAN 1,985,614

MI TER GAUGE Filed July 12, 1935 Wwm Jrruumrs;

Patented Dec. 25, 1934 arr Miran canon Application JuLv 12, 1933, SerialNo. 680,085

gauges, and particularly to that class of miter I gauges designed to beused in conjunction with power driven saws, enabling materials to beeasily cut by the saws on a miter. In this class of work a very largepercentage of miter cuts are made on conventional angles, for examplemost of the cuts will be at angles of 90 degrees, 45 degrees, 60degrees, 30 degrees, degrees, or 75- degrees. Such being the case it ishighly advantageous to provide a construction which will enableadjustment of the fence quickly with respect to the base to any one ofthese frequently'used positions and to provide a construction which willaccurately cause the fence to assume the desired angular positionrelatively to the base.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved miter gaugewherein provision is made to enable the fence to be quickly adjustedwith respect to the base into any one of these positions which are mostfrequently used and which will cause the fence to accurately assume theposition with respect to the base as will produce the desired angularcut when the material is forced into the saw.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a construction, having theabove mentioned characteristics and advantages, which will enable thesetting of the fence at any angle with respect tc the base and lockingit in place in such position, which may be at an angle intermediate anyof the principal positions which are most frequently used.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved miter gaugeof extremely suitable and durable design and which may be easilymanufactured, applied to a saw table, and easily used.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description, and specifically pointedout in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawingfor an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Fig. l isa top plan view of the improved miter gauge.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 22 uponFigure l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line- 3-3 uponFigure 2.

' Referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, the improved miter gaugeconsists of a base 10. This base may be an elongated base of rectangularcross section designed to fit and slide in a groove formed for itsreception in the surface of a saw table. A

' oasting 11 is mounted thereon, which provides an upright surface 12constituting the fence against which the material to be cut by the sawmay be positioned.- This casting is pivotally mounted on the base suchas by a rivet 13 havinga countersunk head 14 on the under side of base10. It will be understood that the casting 11 may rotate about thecenter of rivet -13 as a center. The casting 11 has an arcuate slot 15formed therein and presents a semi-circular rear edge which is rebatedas at 16 to receive an arcuate or segmental scale 17. The scale 1'? hasslots 18 formed in its ends through which attaching screws 19 extend.These slots provide for a slight adjustment of the scale with respectto. casting 11 so that in attaching the scale to the casting thegraduations thereon will be properly positioned with respect to surface12. The rear edge of casting I1 is notched, the notches being shown bythe reference character 20. These notches 20, which are formed in thecasting, are larger than similarly shaped notches 21 which are formed inthe scale 17 opposite principal or most frequently used graduations.This arrangement is preferred so that any slight adjustment of the scalewith respect to Icasting 11 will in no way throw notches 21 out ofregistry with notches 20. Also inasmuch as the bottom surface of scale17 is in spaced relation to base 10, the larger notches will aiford aclearance to allow sawdust to drop freely and not accumulate on the base10 in such a way as to interfere with the entry of the indexing member22. The indexing member 22 has forwardly tapering sides designed toclosely fit notches 21. -It is slidable in a housing 23 having lugs onits under side indicated at 24 by which it is attached to base 10 and itis urged forwardly toward the scale by means of a compressed coil spring25. It can be retracted by means of a handle 26 extendin through thehousing and through the coil spring, which carries fins or ribs 27slidable in keyways formed in the end of the housing. These fins preventrotation of the handle and rotation of the indexing member 22. Also bywithdrawin the handle and giving it a partial turn the fins.

ries a stationary pointer 28 arranged to traverse the graduations onscale 17. A tightening screw 29 is threaded into the base 10 througharcuate slot 15 and this, on being tightened, will serve to fasten orlock casting 11 to the base. As indicated upon the drawing, the-underside of the casting-is preferably cored out or made hollow to savematerial and to make the casting l1 relatively light. In the ends of thefence there are drilled apertures 30 to receive stops 31, which may befastened in adjusted position by means of tightening screws 32.

The operation and advantages of the improved miter gauge are as follows.The miter gauge is shown in the position wherein the fence is at ninetydegrees to the longitudinal axis of base 10, this being a position veryfrequently assumed by the fence for a majority of cuts to be made.Assuming, however, that it is desired to change the fence so as to makea forty-five degree cut, the tightening screw 29 is loosened so as torender the casting 11 free to rotate as soon as indexing member 22 iswithdrawn from the ninety I degree notch. The indexing member is thenwithdrawn by means of handle 26 and the casting 11 is turned until theforty-five degree notch is approximately opposite the indexing member.The indexing member is then released, entering the forty-five degreenotch, and the tapered sides of the indexing member engaging the taperedsides of the notch 21, opposite the forty-five degree graduation on thescale, accurately'center the casting 11 in such away that its surface 12will be exactly at forty-five degrees to the length of base 10. In thisposition tightening screw 29 may be tightened to fasten casting 11 inplace, or it may be left loose inasmuch as the engagement of theindexing member 22 with the notch is sufficient to hold the casting inplace. Likewise if it is desired to shift casting 11 into any otherposition which is frequently used, a suitable notch is formed on thescale 17 for all of the principally used positions, enabling the castingto be quickly turned to any of these frequently used positions andaccurately centered by merely releasing handle 26 and allowing theindexing member to enter a notch. If, however, it is desired to soposition casting 11 that surface 12 will be at an,.intermediate anglewith respect to the length of base 10, this may be accomplished byholding the indexing member 22 retracted and then adjusting casting 11so that pointer 28 is exactly opposite the graduations on the scale 1'1,which is desired. While in this position tightening screw 29 istightened to lockthe casting tothe base and thereafter handle 26 isreleased.

It will be noted that the arrangement is such as to enable sawdust tofall freely through notches 21 and that it will not accumulate in thesenotches, preventing the entry of the indexing member 22 and the accuratepositioning of surface 12 with respect to base 10 by the entry of theindexing member into the notch. The sawdust may fall freely throughnotches 21 and, as notches 20 are larger, whatever sawdust accumulatesin them does not interfere with the proper engagement between scale 1'!and the indexing member 22.

The improved construction enables the fence to be very easily andquickly adjusted to any of the principal or most frequently usedpositions merely by'retracting handle 26, swinging the casting 11, andreleasing handle 26. However, by the provision of tightening screw 29adjustment of the casting to any intermediate position is possible.Obviously the number of notches used on the scale may be increased ordecreased from the number shown.

During this method of adjustment, wherein tightening screw 29 isused,-the indexing member may be held in retracted position byretracting handle 26 and giving it a partial turn. causing the ribs orfins to engage the end of the housing and hold the indexing memberretracted against the action of the spring. 7

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1'. A miter gauge comprising a base, means providing a fence pivotallymounted upon the base,

and indexing means associated with the base having a tapered pointadapted to be caused to enter and closely fit any of the notches tocause the fence to accurately assume the desired angular position withrespect to the base, the bottoms of the tapered notches being wider thantheir tops.

2. A miter gauge comprising a base, means providing a fence pivotallymounted upon the base, a notched segmental scale adjustably mounted onthe fence forming means for adjustment relatively thereto,vand springurged indexing means on the base adapted to be caused to selectively.enter any of the notches.

3. A miter gauge comprising a base, means providing a fence pivotallymounted upon the base, a notched segmental scale adjustably.

mounted on the'fence forming means for adjustment relatively thereto, ahousing on the base, a spring urged indexing member in the housing urgedto enter any of the notches, and a pointer on the housing arranged totraverse the scale.

4. A miter gauge comprising a base, means providing a fence pivotallymounted upon the base, a notched segmental scale adjustably mounted onthe fence forming means for adjustment relatively thereto, and springurged informing means having an arcuate slot, and a tightening screwthreaded into the base through the slot whereby the fence forming meansmay be fastened to the base in all adjusted positions some of which maybe between those wherein a notch is entered by the indexing means.

6. A miter gauge comprising an elongated base adapted to be positionedon a table, means pro-.- viding a fence pivotally mounted upon the base,

said means carrying a notched arcuate segment on its back, and a springurged indexing meansmounted upon the base for sliding movement in alongitudinal direction thereof andradially toward the center of rotationof the fence adapted to be caused to selectively enter the notches, thenotches in the segment and the indexing means presenting upright sideswhich converge inwardly toward the center of rotation of the fence.

7. A miter gauge comprising an elongated base adapted to be positionedon a table, means providing a fence pivotally mounted upon the base.said means carrying a notched segmental scale on its back, a housing onthe base in back of the scale, and a spring urgedindexing means in thehousing slidable longitudinally of the base and toward the center ofrotation of the fence and adapted to be caused to selectively enter thenotches, the notches in the segment and the indexing means presentingupright sides which converge inwardly. towardthe center of rotation of,the fence.

.- WM; J. lVlERRIGAN.-'

